Separable end fastener



Sept. 21, 1937.

E. CLARK 2,093,973

SEPARABLE END FASTENER Filed Jan. 19, 1955 n IIIIIIJIIIIA IIIIIIIIIIII,

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Patented Sept. 21, 1937 PATENT orrlcr.

SEPARABLE END FAs'rENEn Ernest Clark,

Bceston, England, United-Carr Fastener Corporation,

asslgnor to Cambridge,

Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts v Application January 19, 1935,Serial No. 2,525

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in separable fastenerinstallations and particularly to improvements in such installationshaving separable end fastening means which permit complete separation ofthe stringers of the in-' stallation at desired times.

More particularly the invention relates to improvements in theconstruction ofthe end fastening means and to the manner of connectingthem to the improved relationship of the end fastening means to theslider and fastening elements, to the end that the construction of suchseparable fasteners as a whole is improved generally and is renderedmore satisfactory in operation.

More specific objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentto those skilled in that art having reference to the accompanyingdrawing illustrating certain preferred embodiments of the invention.

1n the drawing Figure 1 is an enlarged elevation of a portion of amultiple operated fastener installation illustrating one embodiment ofthe invention,

Fig. 2 is a similar view of one of the stringers and the female memberof the end fastening device,

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating the parts ready to bemoved into interlocking engagement,

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a similar view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 but with theend fastener elements shown in closed or interlocked position,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevation of the male end fastener element,

Fig. 7 is an edge view thereof,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged elevation of the female end fastenerelement,

Fig. 9 is an edge view thereof looking in the direction of the openedge,

Fig. 10 is an upper edge view thereof,

Fig. 11 is a lower edge view thereof,"

Fig. 12 is an element according to a modified form of the invention,

Fig. 13 is an edge view thereof, and

Fig. 14 is an upper edge view thereof.

50 The invention is particularly adapted to and is best illustrated asapplied to separable fasteners ofthetype employing a pair of separablestringers l0 which may be completely separated at specified times, whichstringers are provided 5 with fastening elements ll, of any desired formelevation of the male end fastener and construction adapted to beprogressively interlocked or released upon movement of a cooperatingslider l2. In the illustratedform of the invention the stringers l0 maybe of fabric, or other flexible material, and the fastening elements l Imay be suitably connected to the edges of the stringer, in such mannerthat the fasten ing elements on one of the stringers may be positionedbetween and interlocked with the fastening elements on the oppositestringer. The slider l2 may be of any suitable construction, employingthe usual spaced front and back plates I3 between which the fastenerelements ll move.

According to the invention, near one end of the stringers l0, preferablythe lower end, there is provided a pair of separable end fastenerscomprising a male member I4 and female member l5, each of said membersl4, l5 beingadvantageously formed of thin sheet metal, and to embraceand be secured to the edge of the stringers by suitable means, as forexample rivets l6. Preferably there are two or more of these fasteningmeans It for each of the members M,

15 and stop members I! may be secured to the edge portions of one ormore of the stringers l0 and adapted for engagement with one or more ofthe members l4, l5 to hold the members in proper position with referenceto the fastening elements ll.

The male end fastening member l4 may advantageously be formed of asingle piece of thin sheet metal, bent to U-shaped form to embrace theedge portion of the stringer ill to which it is to be secured. A pair ofhooks l8 are formed on the male member, presenting spaced interlockinghooks on opposite sides of the male end fastening element I4.Advantageously these hooks 8 may be formed by slitting a portion of theblank forming the male end fastening member, as at l9, and utilizing theportion of the metal so slit to form the interlocking hooks 8. Thecooperating female end fastening member l5 may be formed of sheet metaland as illustrated is made of two piecessecured to the opposite sides ofthe stringer l0 so as to present spaced sides or flanges 20 projectinglaterally beyond the edge of the stringer In. These flanges receivebetween them the male end fastening member [4.

Preferably an edge portion of the sides or flanges 20 may be flaredoutwardly as at 2| to act as a guide and facilitate the entering of themale member [4. between the flanges 20 of the female member ii. Thefemale end fastener is preferably provided with means adapted forinterlocki of the female member i5 most fastening elements ll ingengagement with the male member, to prevent accidental separation of themembers when in locked position, and preferably such means may compriselaterally projecting locking ears 22 on each of the plates 20, extendinglaterally beyond the body of the female end fastener l5 and adapted tobe positioned between the hooks l8 and the body of the male fastener l4.The ears 22 may advantageously be formed with angular extensions 23adapted to be positioned behind the hooks i8 and lock the two fasteners.against a straight lateral pull. a

The laterally extending ears 22 and the angularly disposed extension 23on each of the plates 20 provide an entering throat 24 on each of theplates 20, between the ears 22 and the guides 2| permitting entry of thehook members 18 of the male end fastener 14 into interlocking engagementwith the ears. As will be apparent from Fig. 3 the end fasteners areconnected, first by bringing the two together in an angular position asshown, so that the lower end of the male end fastener will enter betweenthe curved portions or guides 2| of the female end fastener. Thereupon,a relative rotative movement of the male with respect to the female endfastener l5 will cause the hook portions I8 to enter the throat 24 andbe positioned below the ears 22 and behind the extension 23,securelylocking the members l4 and IS in position. As will be apparentfrom Figs. 1,

end fastener l4 7 extends outwardly beyond the inner edge of the throat24 and prevents accidental unlocking of the, end fastener by a relativelongitudinal shifting movement.

A slightly modified form of male end fastener I4 is illustrated in Figs.12 to 14 inclusive wherein the end fastener is formed from a singleblank of metal bent into U-shaped form providing plates 26 on oppositesides of the stringer I0. and which are connected by the portion 21. Inthis instance I have cut out the material at 28 to form hooks 29extending from the lower edges of the cut-out 28 instead of at the upperedges as in the fastener! 4.

This arrangement is slightly easier to manufacture than-the other shownin Figs. 6 and 7.

In applying the end fasteners I4, I 5 to the stringers, they arearranged so that one end of each is in contact with the endmostfastening element H on each stringer l0 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3), and thus theend fasteners act to hold the endin proper positions. Thus a stop memberI! securely fixed to a stringer I0 engaging the oppositeend of an endfastener acts, in conjunction with the fastening devices I 6 and afastener element II, to provide against end fastener member l5. Thus itis not as essential to provide a mem- -ber I! with the end fastenermember I4 because it has a better grip on its stringer III, as shown inFigs. 5, 6 and '7."

Furthermore, as will be apparent 'from the illustration of Figs. 3 and5, the inner edge of the male end fastener I4 is entered between thespaced plates i3 of the slider l2 as it is moved into locking engagementwith 'the female and fastener l5. Thus as the end fasteners are lockedtogether, the endmost fastening elements ll of each stringer areaccurately positioned with respect to each other and to the slider I 2which is held in proper alignment and positioned by engagement with themale end fastener l4. As a result I have provided an improved endseparable fastening means which is strong. durable and so constructedthat the operation thereof is appar- 3 and 8, a portion 25 ent andaccurately aligns the fasteners .prior to the slider being moved toengage the fasteners been illustrated and described, the invention isnot to be limited thereby, because the scope thereof is best defined bythe following claims:

and disengaging the fastening elements, end fastener means detachablysaid end fastener means including a male and a positioned within thethroat defined by said L-shaped locking device.

end fastener means detachably coupling said stringers, said end fastenermeans including a male and a female member .adapted for interlockingengagement with each other, said female member including a pair ofplates on opposite sides of one stringer, at least one of said plateshaving an integral L-shaped ear extend ing laterally from one edgethereof and a pro- Jection extending laterally from the same edge assaid ear and spaced from said ear whereby a throat is presented by saidear and said projecand said male member including a pair stringers, saidend fastener means including a male and a female member adapted forinterlocking engagement with 'each other, said fecoupling saidstringers,

male member including'a pair of plates on opposite sides of onestringer, at least one of said plates having an integral L-shaped earextending laterally therefrom, said plate having a flared portionlocated below said ear whereby a throat is presented by said ear andsaid flared portion, and said male member including a pair of plates onopposite sides of'the other stringer, at least one of said platespresenting a hook portion bent from the plane of said plate and adaptedto be positioned within the throat defined by said L-shaped lockingdevice.

5. A separable fastening device having two stringers each having aseries of fastening elements attached to an edge, a slider for engagingand disengaging the fastening elements, end fastener means detachablycoupling said stringers, said end fastener means including a male and afemale member adapted for interlocking engagement with each other, saidfemale member including a pair of plates on opposite sides of onestringer, each of said plates having an integral L-shaped ear extendinglaterally therefrom and each of said plates having a flared portionlocated below said ear whereby a throat is presented by said ears andsaid flared portions, and said male member made of one piece of sheetmetal including a pair of plates on opposite sides of the otherstringer, each of said plates presenting arr-integral hook portionadapted to be positioned within the throat presented by said ears andsaid flared portions and the plates of said male member presenting ametal surface for engagement with the plates of said female member.

6. A separable fastening device having two stringers each having aseries of fastening elements attached to an edge, a slider for engagingand disengaging the fastening elements, 40 end fastener means detachablycoupling said stringers, said fastener means including a male and afemale member adapted for interlocking engagement with each other, saidfemale member including a pair of plates on opposite sides 50! onestringer, each of said plates having an integral L-shaped ear extendinglaterally from one edge thereof and a projection extending laterallyfrom the same edge as said. ear and spaced from said ear whereby throatsare 50 formed by the ears and projections of said re- I spective platesfor receiving cooperating locking means of said male member. '7. Aseparable fastening device having two stringers each having a series offastening ele- 55 ments attached to an edge, a slider for engaging anddisengaging the fastening elements, end fastener means detachablycoupling said stringers, said end fastener means comprising male andfemale members, said male member made of one 60 piece of sheet metalhaving a pair of integral hook portions disposed on opposite sidesthereof for fastening engagement with cooperating means located on saidfemale member, each of said hook portions having a free end portion in ahook portion disposed in spaced substantially parallel relation to saidrespective side.

8. A separable fastening device having two stringers each having aseriesof fastening elements attached to an edge, a slider for engaging anddisengaging the fastening elements, end fastener means detachablycoupling said stringers, said end fastener means comprising male andfemale members, said male member made of one piece of sheet metal havinga pair of plates on opposite sides of one of said stringers and ahook-shaped portion integral with each of said plates and disposed onopposite sides of said stringer, each of said hook-shaped portions hav-'ing' a free end portion'disposed in spaced substantially parallelrelation v to said respective plate.

9. A separable fastening device having two stringers each having aseries of fastening elements, a slider for engaging and disengaging thefastening elements, end fastener means detach-' ably coupling saidstringers, said end fastener means comprising male and female members,said male member made of one piece of sheet metal having a pair ofplates on opposite sides of one of said stringers, and a hook-shapedportion integral with each of said plates and disposed on opposite sidesof said stringer, each of said hook-shaped portions joining the materialof said respective plate intermediate top and bottom edges of saidplate.

10. A separable fastening device having two stringers each having aseries of fastening elements attached to an edge, a slider for engagingand disengaging the fastening elements, endfastener means detachablycoupling said stringers, said end fastener means including a male andfemale member adapted for interlocking engagement with each other, saidmale member having a pair of-spaced apart plates, disposed on oppositesides of one stringer, at least one. of said plates having an integralhook portion formed of material intermediate top and bottom edges ofsaid plate and offset laterally relative to the broad face of saidplate, said hook portion being operative upon relative rotative movementof said end fastener members for interlocking said male member with saidfemale member.

11. A separable fastening device having two stringers each having aseries of fastening elements attached to an edge, a slider for engagingand disengaging the fastening elements, end fastener means detachablycoupling said stringers, said end fastener means-including a male andfemale member adapted for interlocking engagement with each other, saidmale member having a pair of spaced apart plates on opposite sides ofone stringer, at least one of said plates havformed of materialintermediate top and bottom edges thereof, said hook portion being bentfrom the plane of said plate for fastening engagement with cooperatingmeans located on said female member.

ERNEST C

